Here’s a blast from the past. Who remembers this belter of a try from one of Ireland favourites Simon Geoghegan against the ‘auld enemy’? We have many young Simon Geoghegan’s in our club and we want to improve training facilities for them. Help us achieve our goal in developing an all-weather training facility by joining our 400 club development draw. Message us on Facebook and we will get the ball rolling with you. Or you can download the application form here. Many thanks.

Sligo RFC are hosting a New Years party on next Saturday Jan 31st in The Glasshouse at 8pm – there will be music, food and craic !!!

The party is a celebration for all of those people in the Club that give up their time for the Club – the players, the coaches, the committee, the disco volunteers, the fundraisers, etc. This is the Club’s way of thanking you for your time and efforts over the course of the season. You and your spouse/partner are very welcome to join us for a night of celebration.

Please confirm your attendance as we need numbers for the Hotel. You can book your place by texting Jacqui on (087) 248 3524 or by email at cunningham_jacqui@hotmail.com.

The Sligo Development XV took a step towards promotion and the league title when they picked up a bonus point win over a physical Dunmore outfit at Hamilton Park on Sunday. Having finished top of the Connacht J1C league, Sligo are pitted in a round robin play off with Dunmore, NUIG and Galwegians for the coveted title and promotion to League J1B. Sligo’s table topping finish places them as top seeds in the round robin and ensures that they have two home games (Dunmore and NUIG) and one away game against Galwegians.

Despite the recent heavy rainfall the surface at Strandhill was in excellent condition when Sligo’s Niall O’Hara kicked off. The locals were keen to put down an early marker and their high tempo start caused trouble in the Dunmore ranks.

Eight minutes in Sligo struck, live wire scrum half Garry O’Hehir made a break on the Dunmore 22 and was hauled down on the five metre line. A quick recycle allowed Matt Davey the space to dot down wide on the left. O’Hehir was narrowly wide with the tricky conversion attempt.

Sligo continued to play a high tempo game with Outhalf Niall O’Hara controlling the game excellently, moving the bigger Dunmore park round the park at every opportunity.

Try number two came after fourteen minutes. Davey gained momentum with some good work on the half way line before a decisive Andrew Williams break brought play into the Dunmore 22. The ball was moved to O’Hara who hoisted a cross kick to the right corner. Sean Donnelly rose over the Dunmore defender and camly palmed the ball back to Stuart O”Brien who finished close to the posts. O’Hehir converted to put Sligo into a twelve point lead.

Sligo continued to press and were rewarded with a third try on the half hour. Dermot Kiely got has hands on a Dunmore lineout throw ten yards from the line and the Sligo pack smelled blood. With Wesley Maxwell and Craig Adams to the fore the forwards drove for the line and David Cawley completed the job with the touchdown.

Dunmore battled back into the game using their powerful forwards to force penalties in the Sligo defence. The County Galway men got the reward for their industry with a welll taken try in the corner on the stroke of half time.

The second half commenced much as the fiirst ended with the contrasting styles of the two teams to the fore, Sligo trying to put pace on the ball and Dunmore eager to bring their powerful forwards into play at every opportunity.

With ten minutes remaining on the clock Sligo picked up the all important try bonus point. Strong running from replacement Sean Mulin and Clive Morris gave Sligo position in the Dunmore 22. Pressure on the visiting defence forced a penalty five yards from the lline and Sligo opted for the scrum. Solid work from Phillip Allen and Aaron Tansey gave Williams the platform to pick and go for the line. The number 8 was stopped short and a number of pick and drives ensued before O’Hehir squeezed in for the touchdown.

Dunmore valiantly responded in the hunt for a consolation score but Sligo kept their line intact until the referee finally blew the long whistle.

Next Sunday Sligo travel to Galway to face Galwegians in the second leg of their round robin playoff. Sligo will be looking to repeat the performance of the league encounter when they defeated “Wegians in Galway but will know that “wegians will be a different proposition when it comes to a playoff situation, The match kicks off on Sunday at 2.30

Sligo RFC V Corinthians RFC
Under 18 League Semi Final
11th January 2015, 11th January 2015

In the first of two semi-finals, Sligo took on their old rivals Corinthians in a vicious dogfight to secure a chance to compete for the League title in three weeks’ time. Soggy underfoot conditions made it a day for the forwards while a wicked cross field wind blowing consistently throughout the match proved problematic for both kickers. Despite the weathers best efforts, the game drew both a crowd and top performances from the two sides.

Corinthians opened the match by launching the drop-off deep into the Sligo pack, testing them under the high swirling ball. A series of strong carries asked questions of the Corinthians resolve but a forced pass in contact handed momentum to the away side. Sligo demonstrated superb discipline in defence with Liam Mc Elhinney and Darragh Cummins putting in bone shaking tackles to blunt the Corinthians forward advances.

The game broke up slightly with each set of players looking for weaknesses in their well-prepared counterpart’s line. The scrum provided a solid platform for both sides but it was Sligo who capitalised first. The combination of a clever break up the middle and a mammoth clearing kick from T.J. Ford gave the Sligo men field position, buried in Corinthians’ 22. Pressure at the lineout and marauding runs from the likes of Ciaran Cassidy and Shanae O’Hehir left Sligo five metres short of the try line and Corinthians with a man in the bin for consistently slowing the ball down at the breakdown.

One man to the good and tails up, Sligo shifted into fifth, the rolling maul proving to be a most potent weapon against a floundering Corinthians pack. The extra man began to take its toll, the Corinthians line spread thin and ragged. Two successive pods off yet another scrum sucked in any would be tacklers then a snap back to the blind side from Neil Murray left Jack Keegan in space and diving for the whitewash. Unfortunately Keegan, kicking into the gusting breeze, couldn’t convert the resulting kick.

From there on in it was all Sligo. Possession, position and phases began to stack up but the home side lacked the clinical edge to strike while the iron was hot. Corinthians were now back to full strength and putting plays of their own together. Gradual yards and flowing backline moves started to cause trouble in the Sligo lines and a lapse in concentration led to a highly kickable penalty in front of the posts. Corinthians place kicker made no mistakes in putting the ball between the sticks.

Sligo ended the half with a flurry but a knock-on ten metres out left them frustrated going into the break.

Changes at scrumhalf and flanker added physicality to the Sligo line in an attempt to liven up the play and put a dent in the Corinthians on rushing carriers. Keegan set the game rolling again with a high punt into the Corinthians 22. Much like the previous half, Sligo started the better of the two teams but with a stronger sense of urgency about their general shape and play.

Cassidy’s and Jake Sexton’s domineering presence at the lineout chocked Corinthians of their own ball while the backline became more involved with harder lines and increasingly fluid moves. The ever present menace of Sligo’s rolling maul became Corinthians bane with their inability to deal with it effectively resulting in another Sligo try, T.J. Ford finishing off beside the corner flag after a ten metre drive and a sustained pick-and-go drive at the Corinthians line. Keegan pushed his conversion attempt to the left and wide of the uprights. Sligo had another chance to add to their lead but a forward pass at the last minute denied Sligo another possible seven points.

Corinthians responded in kind with a try of their own shortly after, casting off any delusions regarding their capacity to win. An uncharacteristically lax Sligo defence enabled the Galway men to gain ground and, inevitably, a path to the try line. A successful conversion left the sides level at ten all, Corinthians asking all the questions.

Reorganised and refocused from the restart, Sligo created opportunities for themselves with clever field kicking and smart play management. Sligo’s perseverance paid off, the source; the rolling maul. A smooth lineout led to a maul being set up. Together, united, the Sligo pack drove forward, ten metres out, five metres out and Mc Elhinney crossing the line with ball in hand. Ford stepped up to slot home the extra two points from the touch line into the strengthening wind.

Never giving up, Corinthians clawed their way back into the Sligo 22 to set up a position from which to get the score that would draw them level for the second time. Sligo put their bodies on the line but to no avail as Corinthians scored in the corner. The following conversion struck the upright and bounced wide leaving Sligo 17-15 going into the final four nerve racking minutes. Corinthians threw everything they could at Sligo but they held firm. Fresh replacements added that extra defensive oomph needed to see out the victory.

One final penalty gave the replacement scrumhalf, Ryan Feehily, the simple task of booting the ball into touch, bringing the game to a close. Sligo won 17-15 which is enough to see them through to the final in the Sportgrounds in three weeks’ time after a hard fought match between two of the best sides in Connacht.

The President, Chairman, Committee, players and members of Sligo RFC would like to extend their deepest sympathies to Eric Brett on the passing of his mother Rhoda Jane Brett (née Coulter). Mrs. Brett was a sister of prominent club member Joe Coulter and the Club extends their deepest sympaties to Joe, James and family.

The death has occurred of Rhoda Jane Brett (née Coulter) Ardgevna, Templeboy, Sligo
Reposing at her residence on Friday evening from 6pm until 10pm. Removal to Skreen Church of Ireland on Saturday arriving for Funeral Service at 2pm followed by burial in the adjoining Church Grounds. Family flowers only. Donations to the Irish Cancer Society. House private on Saturday morning please.

Please include payment (cheque or cash) for each game – that is a separate cheque for each game

Having applied for tickets, your payment will be processed unless you give at least two weeks notice that you wish to cancel your order – to the address on the bottom of the form

The committee also advises that tickets are issued individually to members who apply for them. The individual to whom the ticket is issued should sit in the allocated seat. If for some reason you are not going to use the ticket yourself then you should advise a member of the ticket committee and return the ticket in advance of the game. Any deviation from this will only be allowed with the express permission of the ticket committee.

The members of the committee will do their utmost to ensure that the international tickets get to those of our members who are the most deserving of them. They will be distributed in a fair and equitable manner after much consideration of all of the correctly completed applications.

For more information on tickets and pricing please see the IRFU website . The selection of tickets that the Club will be able to offer will be limited. Accordingly the full range of tickets as priced on the IRFU website will not be available for purchase from Sligo RFC.

Sligo retained second place in Division 2B of the Ulster Bank League but had to be content with a share of the match points when they were held to a draw in an intense encounter at Richmond Park in Limerick on Saturday.

Sligo went into the game full of confidence having won four of their five league matches to date but were stalemated by a Richmond team determined to garner points on their home patch.

With little or no breeze to speak of Richmond kicked off but it was Sligo who took the early initiative. Good work from Mark Rooney and Conor Kerins positioned Sligo inside their hosts half and a platform for an early attack. With 14 minutes gone on the clock Sligo opened the scoring. A Richmond clearance kick was countered by the Sligo back three and the ruck was formed on the 22. Quick hands from right to left saw the ball moved to Richard Childs and the centre burst through to touch down at the posts. Kerins added the conversion to give Sligo the start they needed.

Richmond countered and began to use their kicking game to pin Sligo back. The locals industry was rewarded with a well taken penalty on the half hour.

Sligo looked set to pick up a second try just before half time when Aaron Spring broke through and was stopped 10 metres short. Although the centre immediately regained his footing and headed for the line following the last gasp tackle the referee adjudged that Spring was held and the penalty was conceded.

Following the resumption Sligo moved back into the lead with a well struck penalty from Matthew Cosgrove.

Sligo continued to battle to try and get a stranglehold on the game but the desire to put pace on the game led to some poor option taking and unforced errors and frustration crept into the Sligo performance.

With 10 minutes remaining Richmond scored the equalising try. A chip ahead into the Sligo 22 was not dealt with by the visiting defence and Richmond won the race to the touchdown. The simple conversion levelled the scores.

For the remaining minutes both sides attempted to find the match winning score but neither side were unable to break the deadlock and when the referee blasted the long whistle the points were shared.

Sligo now take a break from league action until the Saturday the 6th of December when they travel to Limerick again to take on Old Crescent. Coach Gavin Foley will be using this time to sharpen up his charges and get his team back into winning ways.

Sligo’s rich run of form continued apace when they overcame their illustrious guests, Wanderers FC, in an intense Ulster Bank League encounter at Strandhill on Saturday. Sligo went into the game in the knowledge that a win would propel them from third place to second in the league as the top two clubs, Highfield and Armagh, were playing each other on Saturday.

Despite the early morning heavy rain Hamilton Park was in perfect condition and the locals began the game at a ferocious pace. From the Wanderers kick off and Sligo immediately looked to put width on the ball. A searing Mark Rooney break positioned Sligo inside the visitors 22 and quick transfer from left to right saw the ball moved to Aaron Spring and the powerful centre burst his way through to touch down under the posts. Conor Kerins slotted the conversion to complete the perfect start.

Wanderers responded and began to attack Sligo with their expansive game but big tackling notably from Richard Child’s , Matt Davey and Brooke Treymane ensured that the threat was negated.

With half an hour gone Sligo doubled their advantage. A fine Conor Kerins kick and well worked chase put Sligo in the Wanderers 22. The turnover was forced and Sligo were awarded a scrum 10 metres out. The Sligo front row of Ross Mannion, Tadgh Power and Conor Mitchell got the better of the Wanderers trio and the Sligo scrum marched towards the line. The pushover try was inevitable but Wanderers encroached to prevent the Sligo touchdown and the the Referee went under the posts to award a penalty try. Kerins again added the extras.

Wanderers again responded, and were rewarded with a penalty on the stroke of half time to put the score at 14-3 at the interval. Unfortunately for Sligo the penalty punishment was compounded with the sin binning of the influential David Heath for persistent team infringements at the breakdown.
Following the resumption the Dublin outfit raised the tempo in order to make full use of the numerical advantage. Their industry was rewarded 5 minutes into the half with a sniping score from scrum half Michael Mc Loughlin following a period of pressure in the Sligo 22.

The Wanderers resurgence continued and penalties on 55 and 60 minutes put the Landsdowne Road based outfit ahead for the first time in the game.
The match defining moment came with 15 minutes left on the clock.

Wanderers were awarded a penalty in front of the Sligo posts 8 metres from the line. The opportunity to kick was turned down and the scrum option was taken. Wanderers went for the pushover but the scrum went down and had to be reset. Sligo Coach Gavin Foley sent the previously temporarily replaced Conor Mitchell back into the fray and the result was immediate. The Sligo scrum disrupted the Wanderers eight and the ball was turned over allowing Sligo to clear downfield. Sligo continued to press and a Kerins penalty restored the home team advantage.

With 10 minutes remaining Sligo moved into an unassailable 8 point lead. A relieving Sligo kick was countered by the Wanderers back three. Sligo’s kick chase put pressure on the counter attack and the ball was knocked forward on the halfway line. Matthew Cosgrove was quickest to react and the flanker scooped up the ball, burst away from the would be tacklers and showed great pace to finish under the posts. Kerins capped a fine performance with another two pointer.

In the closing moments Wanderers threw everything at Sligo to try and earn at least the losing bonus point but Sligo have prided themselves on their defence and a last gasp drop goal attempt was charged down to send the visitors home with no reward for their endeavours.

With 4 wins from 5 matches Sligo now sit in the very healthy position of second in the table but despite the great start to the season Coach Foley is keeping the team firmly grounded and is only concentrating on one game at a time. Sligo’s next challenge is an away trip to RIchmond RFC in Limerick next Saturday the 15th of November . There is a supporters bus for anyone wishing to travel to cheer on the team. For details contact Michael at 0868198540 or John at 0876212414.

On a windy day in Castlebar the boys from Sligo RFC U16 opened this seasons campaign with a solid win over Castlebar RFC.

At the opening kick off Sligo received the ball and combined resolutely though the forwards Callum Tonry, Oisin Staunton and Captain Michael Kilcoyne making the first line break and Brian Cox making the second break up the right hand side of the pitch well supported by Jack Hoey and Vincent Reynolds. The ball was fed to the back line and after some really good play Fiachra Doherty, the Outside Center, scored in the corner on the far left. 5 mins gone and Sligo was leading 5- 0.
The second try by the young Sligo men came shortly after when Castlebar after some poor defending found themselves on their own 5 meter line. Blindside Flanker Sean Wynne got the ball of yet another well worked Sligo ruck and backed himself against the odds and surrounded by 4 Castlebar players powered himself over the line for a great individual try.

After this early dominance by Sligo Castlebar rose to the challenge and through some good kicking down wind and a few missed tackles by Sligo they managed to push their way through the Sligo defence to open their account.
Some messy play in the middle of the pitch by both teams followed. A kick to the Sligo 5 meter line by Castlebar put the pressure on the visitors resulting in a number of penalties be rewarded to the home team. In the end Castlebar was rewarded a penalty try and Jack McDermott was sin binned. Half time Castlebar 14 – Sligo 10.

The second half open with massive pressure by Sligo and Castlebar had no reply to the attacks and Sean McVeigh, who had an excellent game, ran in the first of his 2 trys on the day. The last try from Sligo came after a line out 15 meters from the Castlebar try line. Oisin Staunton throw found the safe hands of Jack McDermott and as a result of the excellent maul that followed Hugh Kisby, the ever tenacious scum half, dived in off the back of the maul on the blind side to score his try.

Fiachra Doherty converted the Kisby try in off the upright and Sligo were now ahead 27-14.

In the last 10 mins Castlebar got a consoling try after Sligo had emptied their bench to end the match 27-19.

The Sligo squad always look the better team and going forward much more capable. Had the wind not played such a big part the margin of Sligo’s victory could have been considerably larger.

Sligo secured another 5 Ulster Bank League points with a bonus point win over previously unbeaten Tullamore RFC in a superb display of power and control at Hamilton Park on Saturday. Sligo’s win has moved them to third place in the division 2b table, just 1 point behind current leaders Highfield RFC.

Sligo kicked off playing with the advantage of the breeze but it was the Offaly outfit that seized the early initiative. A searing Jordan Conroy break paved the way for a well taken try with Aaron Deverill converting to put his team into an early lead. Deverill further compounded Sligo’s woes with a well struck penalty with 10 minutes gone.

Sligo refused to panic and began to impose themselves on the game. The front row work of Conan O Donnell, Tadgh Power and Conor Mitchell at scrum time began to reap rewards and some important penalties were won which allowed Sligo establish a foothold in enemy territory.

With 20 minutes on the clock Sligo struck for their opening score. A period of pressure in the Tullamore red zone saw Jamie Bowes, Rory Kerins and Aaron Spring all carrying strongly before the ball was moved left to Michael Allen and the winger made no mistake with a well taken finish. Conor Kerins’ well struck conversion attempt unfortunately came back off the upright. Kerins did open his account just before the break with a well struck penalty to move his side within two of the midlanders.

The second half began much as the first ended with Sligo dominating in all facets of play. James Wilson and David Heath were lording the lineouts and Sligo’s intensity at the breakdown was earning useful turnovers.

10 minutes into the half Sligo moved into the lead. A well secured lineout on the Tullamore 22 was driven towards the line before scrum half Enda Gavin linked with Brooke Tremayne and the out half’s well timed pass allowed Mark Rooney the opportunity to finish in the right corner.

Sligo continued to press and more good work from the pack allowed the opportunity to set up camp in the visitors 22. A five metre scrum allowed the front row the chance to put on the squeeze and the scrum shunted towards the line. Tullamore illegally prevented the inevitable try and the referee had no hesitation in going under the posts and awarding the penalty try. Kerins popped over the conversion to stretch the lead to 10 points.

Sligo were now on the hunt for the precious try bonus point and with 10 minutes remaining the prize was secured. In an almost carbon copy situation Sligo were awarded another 5 metre scrum and again Tullamore caved in under pressure giving the ref no choice but to award a second penalty try. Kerins capped a fine outing with another two pointer.

Sligo now move into a three week break from League action before they make the trip south to take on Cork city outfit Sunday’s Well on the 1st of November.

Sligo made the mammoth journey South to east Cork to tackle Midleton RFC in their second Ulster Bank League match of the 2014/15 season. Having put Ards RFC to the sword in emphatic style in their opening league encounter Sligo travelled in a confident mood and hopeful of continuing their strong form. Middleton however provided stern opposition and their well drilled physical pack succeeded in starving the Sligo backline of any quality possession and the leesiders won out in the low scoring encounter.

In ideal conditions for rugby Sligo kicked off and tried to set the early pace sensing that the Midleton pack needed to be moved around but in their enthusiasm unforced errors allowed the cork outfit to get an early foothold. An early Midleton penalty opened the scoring before Conor Kerins equalise with a penalty on the half hour. Midleton restored the advantage on the stroke of half time with another well struck effort.

The second half continued as the first ended with Midleton using their powerful pack to good effect. Sligo props Conor Mitchell , Adrian Mc Hale and replacement prop Conan O Donnell had to battle hard at scrum time and Gary Connelly and his jumpers had to be spot on to secure lineout possession. The battle of the breakdown was immense with Rory Kerins, Aidan McNulty and Eddie Connell having to work really well together to gain parity.

With flowing rugby in scarce supply the Sligo backline didn’t get much chance to use their attacking flair but when called upon the power of Aaron Spring and the pace of Mark Rooney and Richard Child’s looked threatening. New club outhalf Brooke Treymane gave a competent debut performance and is sure to become an integral part of the team setup when he finds his feet. Conor Kerins continues to grow into his scrum half role and Michael Allen and Colin Keane demonstrated their footballing prowess when called upon.

One aspect of the game that is certain to please Coach Gavin Foley is the defensive strength. Despite Midleton throwing the proverbial kitchen sink at Sligo the defensive line remained intact throughout.

Midleton increased their advantage with another penalty effort with 10 minutes remaining and it proved to be the final score of a tough encounter.

Next Saturday Sligo play host to Tullamore. Last season the teams played a close encounter in Spollanstown with the midlanders coming out on top of a tight scoreline. Sligo will be looking to use their home advantage to its fullest and will be trying to get back to winning ways.